Hot Props & SFX Posts
How To: Make a prop pen flashlight powered Star Trek phaser
This is a tutorial on Halloween costumes prop construction. Follow these easy Star Trek Phaser construction directions. Spocks costume needs a phaser. The phaser laser beam is simulated by a pen flashlight.
How To: Apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes
Get your Halloween on zombie-style! Watch this ThreadBanger video tutorial to see how to apply zombie makeup and make zombie clothes. Becoming undead is perfect for Halloween parties, but you can't do it without a little help. Get a makeup tutorial from the creators of Zombie A GO GO plus a lesson on how to zombify your clothing. This will also be helpful for all of you amateur filmmakers out there looking to make the next horrific horror movie for the undead.
How To: Build a blue Eryndor boffer sword
All you LARPers out there, watch and see how you can make a blue boffer sword for LARPing. This weapon passes all weapons specs as of Ragnarok XXI War Council for Eryndor.
How To: Make an Amtgard-style boffer sword
It's time for some LARP! Get your Amtgard LARPing on with this easy to make faom boffer sword. Just watch as Harkael explains how you can make an Amtgard-style boffer sword. This isn't the only way to make a foam sword, but if you know nothing about making swords for live action role playing, this is a great place to start.
How To: Create the wall cut with your camera and Sony Vegas
The wall cut is a very cool transition, where it looks as if the scene appears on the other side of the wall. You can do this with steady hands to hold that camera, and any editing platform with a linear wipe transition. Here, you'll see it done with Sony Vegas.
How To: Pass through a wall using your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to "pass through a wall". It's a really neat editing trick, so use it wisely. Don't overdo it, or it will just look cheesy, not that cheesy's bad or anthing.
How To: Make a whip cut with your camera and Sony Vegas
The 'whip cut' is a clever way of joining shots together without the audience realizing there's been a cut. This means that you can shoot one actor in one place and another actor in a completely different place and join the two shots together. If you're trying to make twins, then make sure they are wearing different clothes, please.
How To: Pass through a keyhole with your camera and Sony Vegas
This tutorial shows you how to make it seem as though you pass through a keyhole. All you need is a camera and an editing platform with chroma keying and keyframing. This video uses Sony Vegas to demonstrate, but you can use any program you like. Yes, that's right, any (almost).
News: Reenact Star Trek's Lamest Shatner Fight Ever
Stunt fighting. It ain't rocket science. There's no way this Star Trek scene between Captain Kirk and this dino-monster could be worse. It's plain awful. Come on Shatner, we know you can fight! No excuses. Stunt fighting. It ain't rocket science. There's no way this Star Trek scene between Captain Kirk and this dino-monster could be worse. It's plain awful. Come on Shatner, we know you can fight! No excuses.
How To: Become the Joker, a vampire or a zombie for Halloween
Leah D'Emilio from Mahalo Daily meets up with Maurice Stein, founder of Cinema Secrets in Burbank, CA to learn a few tricks of the trade for Halloween makeup. This video tutorial will show you how you can do three awesome looks for under twenty bucks from makeup artist, Taco: Vampire Kiss, Zombie, and the Joker.
How To: Become Heath's Ledger's Joker with makeup and latex
And... here… we... go! This Halloween you'll be the Joker, the wry character Heath Ledger revitalized in the film "Dark Knight," but how? This video tutorial will teach you all of the little tricks to becoming Heath Ledger's Joker with simple makeup.
How To: Turn in to Heath Ledger's Joker with Halloween makeup
"It's a funny world we live in. Speaking of which, do you know how I got these scars? " - Heath Ledger's Joker in "The Dark Knight"
How To: Do a nail through the finger halloween special effect
How to make scary finger for Halloween! This special effects video will demonstrate how to make a convincing nail through a bloody finger. Cool trick for halloween or your next slasher movie!
How To: Make unzipped eyes with makeup
Apply the zipper eye makeup Halloween costume look by gluing real zippers below your eye. This gives a really creepy, skin opening look. Make it more gruesome with fake blood and darker eye makeup. It's originally a MAC makeup look, but many use it for scary costuming or an industrial zombie look.
How To: Make a straitjacket for your movie or for Halloween
Are you going INSANE cause you don't have a costume yet for Halloween? Worry no more, because this video tutorial from Thread Banger, Rob shows us a crazy tutorial on how to make your very own straitjacket.
How To: Make a blood spurting knife wound
It's time for Halloween, maybe it's time for your ultimate independent horror movie you've been dying to make, whatever the case may be, you're going to need some blood, you're going to need some weapons... you're going to need a bloody knife wound.
How To: Make glowing LED creature costume eyes
By using LEDs that only put out a little light the eyes can be lit in dim room light but still appear white, the moment the eyes are in shadow they glow bright red. Watch this video tutorial to see how to make glowing LED creature costume eyes for your film or costume project.
How To: Make a latex skin over carved foam
Are you in need of some kind of mold or cast for your next feature film, but need to save a few bucks? As an alternative to casting (making a shape from a mold) one can carve foam into a desired shape and then coat the foam with liquid latex. This will not create a perfectly smooth surface, but is much less expensive than casting as it requires fewer steps and less resources. So, with this video tutorial, you can learn what you need to know about making a latex skin over carved form.
How To: Make a homemade electric chair
Whether you’re pro or con on the death penalty issue, there’s nothing more terrifying than having a real live electric chair in your own home! So you should probably just use these simple steps to create a mock-electric chair to “shock” your guests! This Fear.Net Halloween video shows us how to make a homemade electric chair to frighten the Trick or Treaters this holiday season! Make a homemade electric chair.
How To: Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween
Even if you’re a Cyclops, you can’t expect to turn a blind eye to the most authentic Halloween make-up! Be part of the cringe-worthy fun and try our gauged eyeball make-up, brought to you by the pros. Make up a bloody gauged eye for Halloween.
How To: Build a breakaway tombstome prop
Are you doing a graveyard shot and decided it would be cool to throw someone through a tombstone? This video tutorial will show you how to make a breakaway tombstone. It can also be used to make a cool fake graveyard. You will need foam insulation, a tape measure, sand paper, a utility knife, a marker, string, and paint. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how make a breakaway tombstone for your next scary movie.
How To: Build a sci-fi cryo containment chamber
Making a prop for a science fiction movie? This how-to video dives step by step guidance on how to build a super cool, futuristic, sci-fi, cryo containment chamber. You will need a cylindrical object, craft foam or sytrofoam, a hot glue gun, plaster of Paris, aquarium line tubing, and paint. Check out this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to build a great sci-fi like cryogenic containment chamber.
How To: Make a Spiderman gun for Halloween
Modify a hot glue gun and shoot streams of sticky web goo all over your haunted house with the Spiderman gun in this how-to video. Add a little extra something to your Spiderman costume, to impress while trick-or-treating or at a Halloween party. You will need a hot glue gun, an air-compressor, air-compressor tubing, and copper fittings. Watch this video Halloween tutorial and learn how to make a Spiderman gun.
How To: Clean a smoke machine
Smoke machines can add great atmosphere to any occasion. But your smoke machine can get clogged. You need to clean the smoke machine every 6 months. This tutorial teaches you how to clean your smoke machine. Great care must be taken as the smoke or steam is very hot and can burn you in a split second. Watch this how to video and soon you will have a sparkling clean smoke machine.
How To: Hack a prop ghost to fly continuously for Halloween
Check out this instructional video to learn how to hack a prop ghost to fly continuously for your Halloween display.
How To: Set up a prop static ghost for Halloween
Check out this instructional video that shows how to set up a prop static ghost for Halloween.
How To: Make a display graveyard & border fences for Halloween
Check out this Halloween tutorial video that shows how to make a display graveyard and its border fences.
How To: Make a flying crank ghost on Halloween
Check out this Halloween tutorial video to learn how to make a flying crank ghost. This is essentially like making a big Marionette ghost puppet. All you need is the following easy to find materials: a styrofoam skull, 7 wire coat hangers, black spary paint, pliers, cheese cloth, tacky glue, and laundry detergent. This flying crank ghost promises to be a delightful scare on Halloween trick or treaters!
How To: Choose a prop gun for your indie film
One of the long-standing problems of guerilla and indie filmmakers is the quest for exactly what kind of prop gun to use in their films. To help guide you through this quest, Mat Nastos takes a look at all of the options open to filmmakers, including blank firing guns, Airsoft guns, Japanese Model Guns, Real Action Markers and even firing blank loads with real guns. Check out this instructional prop video to learn how to choose a prop gun that's right for your film.
How To: Make Axel's chakrams for Cosplay
Check out this tutorial video to learn how to make Axel's chakrams for Cosplay. This instructor guides you along every step of the process, even taking you to the store and providing tips on which materials to use. Watch this instructional video that details how to make Axel's chakrams for cosplay, and enhance your role playing.
How To: Make a cardboard sword for Cosplay
Check out this step by step instructional video to learn how to make a Cosplay Sword from cardboard and wood! Make sure you have all of the following materials to start making your Cosplay sword: spray paint, hard cardboard, wooden dowel, bendable metal wire, silver colored tape, embellishment, super glue, hand saw, paper clay, masking tape, scrap papers, pen knife, and a PVC pipe. Watch this Cosplay video and enhance your role playing with this tutorial!
How To: Make prop glass out of sugar
Don't use real glass as a prop and end up cutting or hurting yourself. Prop glass made out of sugar looks just like the real thing, and won't end in a bloody mess. You will need two cups of water, three and a half cups of sugar, one cup white corn syrup, and one fourth teaspoon cream of tartar. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to make prop sugar glass.
How To: Make a Halloween Jason hockey mask
Jason Voorhees might be one of the scariest horror villains, and that's why he would make for a great Halloween costume. For this project, you will need a hockey mask, white spray paint, black spray paint, clear spray paint, an artist's brush, red, black, and brown acrylic paint, sand paper, an X-acto or utility knife, a drill bit, and a black barker. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to make a Jason Voorhees hockey mask for a Halloween costume or movie spoof.
How To: Transform from a female to a male temporarily
Ladies, have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a dude for the day? Maybe as part of a Halloween costume, or even just for fun? No need to get a gender reassignment surgery, take a test drive as a man with the help of a little makeup, ironically enough. You will need eyeliner, makeup powder, and a hat to cover up your hair. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to temporarily change your gender from female to male with a little bit of cosmetic magic.
How To: Make a cheap corpse head prop for Halloween
Dr Kreepy, Halloween crafter, shows how to obtain a rotting head without killing someone! For this project, you will need a skull, paintbrushes, liquid latex, black spray paint, brown paint, and cotton balls. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make a cheap corpse prop head for Halloween.
How To: Make a Latex Skull Mold to Make a Plaster Skull
Dr Kreepy, Halloween craftsmen, shows a cheap and easy way to make full and partial skulls from Plaster of Paris! For this project, you will need a plastic skull, cheese cloth, a paintbrush, melting latex, anchoring cement, and Plaster of Paris. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to build a latex skull mold to make plaster skulls or skull fragements.
How To: Make cheap prop eyeballs for Halloween
Super cheap eyeballs without breaking the bank! While grapes are the safe standard to spook out trick or treaters, they don't look very realistic. For this project, you will need clear spray paint, white spray paint, black spray paint, blue acrylic paint, black acrylic paint, red acrylic paint, coat hanger or wire, tweezers, an artist's brush, a foam ear plug, a rag, sanding block or sanding paper, and bouncy balls. Watch this video prop-making tutorial and learn how to make cheap prop eyebal...
How To: Build cheap prop tombstones for Halloween or effects
Follow along with Dr Kreepy in this quick video tutorial on how to do cheap and easy tombstones for your home haunt. You will need a marker, a hobby knife or X-acto knife, a hacksaw, an electric rotary tool, black acrylic paint, black spray paint, white paint, a spray bottle full of water, a paintbrush, and foam board. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to make a cheap prop tombstone for a Halloween decoration or a film prop.
How To: Enhance videos of a static scene using photographs
This video presents a system for automatically producing a wide variety of video enhancements and visual effects. Unlike traditional visual effects software (e.g., After Effects, Shake, Boujou, etc), the system is completely automatic and no manual labor is required from the user. The major limitation of the work is that it can currently handle only videos of static scenes (i.e., videos shot with a moving camera but containing no moving objects in the scene). Efforts are being made to lift th...
How To: Recreate the Joker's makeup from the Dark Knight movie
This video series demonstrates a take on the screen accurate Joker from "The Dark Knight." The materials and makeup used are all from a company called Mehron, specifically the Extra Flesh that used for the scars, the Liquid Latex, the Spirit Gum, and the Fantasy F/X Tube Makeup. Watch this video special effects tutorial and learn how to do the Joker's makeup from the Batman Dark Knight movie for a Halloween costume or a new life as a sociopath.